202 
ASPIDIACE^. 
in proportion to its size, as the fronds of larger growth : a figure 
of this remarkable specimen is introduced in the margin. A 
fourth departure from the usual form 
occurs near Stormont house, Belfast, 
growing in company with great abun- 
dance of Polystichum angular e, the 
usual form of Lastrana Filix-mas and 
Athyrium Filix-femma. The points 
of discrepancy are these : frond nar- 
row, elongate, pinnules very distant ; 
clusters of capsules small, separate and 
distinct : I am indebted to Mr. Moore 
for a specimen of this curious fern. A 
fifth form occurs on the limestone dis- 
trict of the north of England, in com- 
pany with Lasirma rigida : I am in- 
debted to Mr. Finder for an example 
from Ingleborough : in this plant the 
great discrepancy exists in the smaller 
size, a foot being its extreme length, and 
in having its large clusters of capsules 
confined to the bases of the pinnules, 
where they form a crowded confluent 
line, which completely covers the midrib 
of the pinna. From a very careful com- 
parison of this plant with the descrip- 
tion of Decandolle’s Polystichum ah- 
hreviatum,^ I am induced to pronounce 
them identical, yet scarcely incline to 
consider the discrepancy from the usual 
form of Filix-mas sufficient for the 
establishment of a species. Mr. Bor- 
rer and Mr. Cameron have also noticed two forms of this fern, 
one of which is distinguished by the abundance of golden-co- 
loured scales, which cover almost every part of the plant. The 
pinna a at page 197 is of the natural size and normal form. 
* Flor. Franc, ii. 560. 
